‘Invest in agriculture’

Worried by the country’s continued dependence on imported foods despite the abundance of arable land, the Chairman of ODS Global Investment Farms and Company, Alhaji Olaniyi Salami has advised Nigerians to invest in agriculture as crude oil and gas could no longer be major revenue earner for the country.

Alhaji Salami spoke during the facility tour of 50 acres of farm land acquired by his company at Onigambari, Ibadan/Ijebu Ode Road in Oluyole Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The investor, who decried a situation whereby the country would continue to spend huge sums to import food items despite the availability of vast arable land and enough manpower necessary for self-sufficiency in food production, also observed that importation of food was one of the factors that depleted the country’s foreign reserves and should be discouraged.

“My company decided to embark on large-scale farming to assist the government in its effort at attaining self-sufficiency in food production and industrial raw materials. The farm, when operational, would embark on food processing and would also create employment for many people,” he said.

Salami ,who emphasised the need to harness agriculture to boost food production and less dependence on food importation, also enjoined government at all levels to give priority attention to agriculture sector and appoint competent individuals to man the Ministry of Agriculture.